This book did nothing for me. I could not get into the plot line. I didn't like the main characters. It had some potential, but this book is just so confusing. I am barely able to focus while reading this book. So much of it is just going into my brain and right back out again. The romance while fated doesn't have any zing. They just kept throwing themselves at each other. There is just so much I didn't enjoy about this book.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for allowing to read an advance copy of this title.

This book has a really creative backstory, with talk about ley lines and axes and the Supreme Witch and a Watcher and the creation of the world. But it is also full of puns like characters named Magic, Day, and Night, Aline, and Dragon. Which... witch... are we talking about magic or Magic. If you like to feel drunk, high, and like you're underwater or in neverland when reading, this may be the book for you! It almost felt to me like there were two different authors. One who could write clear, cohesive sentences and one who wrote in a fog of confusion. Literally our main character (heroine??) says "I don't understand" about 1400 times in the book. Same girl, same, but you are supposed to be the one saving the day so could you think of something else to say? I almost gave up at 30% but then it got clear again, and then at 50% I was too invested to stop. I will give this book exactly 2.5 starts because half of it was good, and half it was like what the heck did I just have a bad trip? I don't even know how else to describe it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

What Became of Magic by Paige CWhat Became of Magic is an awe-inspiring, mystical read that is original and thought-provoking. From the moment I delved into this captivating tale, I was completely engrossed and unable to put it down. The author's unique approach to storytelling is truly impressive, and the way she weaves together magic and mystery is nothing short of intriguing. I was transported to another world and lost myself in a truly enchanting story.
rutcher

A surprisingly comforting and cozy-adjacent fairytale. I couldn't help but channel the song "Storybook Love" from The Princess Bride (movie) while reading this. Seriously, give it a listen, the lyrics hit when it comes to the Romance sprinkled within.
This hit several of my favorite themes; magic, witches, greek mythology, outcasts, meant-to-be love, and found family, to name a few. I also loved the riddles, I'm a fan, regardless of being terrible at them or whether or not they make any sense...
I would've loved for this book to have been longer, particularly in exploring the town of Matchstick!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

A really interesting and intriguing read. I love the idea of finding keys, doors and helping others. There were many unexpected turns and events that kept the story less predictable and moved at a good pace. Over all I enjoyed the book.

I felt a little confused at times when the point of view switched. Not enough to stop reading but enough that I was not sure where it was going or how it was connected.

Here you will find:
- Unexpected magics
- Unexpected creatures and beings
- Things are not as they seem
- Intense Connections
- Save Magic

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, St Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC.

"From Paige Crutcher, the author of The Orphan Witch and The Lost Witch, comes a new tale about a witch, a book of magic, and a beguiling and powerful creature whom she must free, even if it puts her life and soul at stake.

Aline Weir, a witch who can talk to ghosts, has kept her talents hidden ever since a disastrous middle school slumber party, choosing to be invisible and use her powers in secret to help lost souls reunite with the keys to send them home. All the while, she finds solace in a bookstore and the three mysterious women who run it....until Aline discovers the book of Mischief, and her powers are enhanced.

Living a solitary life until the age of thirty, Aline's life takes an unexpected turn when the wrong (or perhaps right) person witnesses her using her powers and she is invited to a town that doesn't exist on any map.

Arriving in Matchstick, Aline learns of a lost magic that desperately needs to be found and only her unique powers can do it. But what she's not told is that Magic is a person. One that is dangerous and seductive and has been waiting for a witch with a power like hers for centuries."

I mean, aren't all middle school slumber parties disastrous?

This was such an amazing book! You really get sucked into Aline’s journey and I immediately felt a connection with Aline. I loved how vivid this story was and how it perfectly played out in my mind. The atmosphere was so enchanting and addicting; I would try to take a break from reading and found myself itching to pick the book back up. I love Paige Crutcher’s writing style and her ability to tell a story is absolutely mesmerizing. I can’t get enough of her books.

What Became of Magic is an entertaining cozy story that is perfect for the upcoming season. This story pulled at lots of emotions and feelings and took me to all kinds of magical places within me. The characters are developed and loveable. Overall this is a good read!

hank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

What I loved most about Paige Crutcher's riveting tale is that she made the connection between magic and trauma. Having a witch with a traumatic backstory is nothing new in fiction, but having it be a very relevant part of the plot really makes this novel stand out. Specifically, having Aline's (love that character name btw!) magic impacted by the middle school incident creates that link between a witch's mental health, the trauma that she's experienced, and her magical abilities. I'm a little sick of books where witches experience a lifetime's worth of trauma (usually witch hunts) and then they bounce back like it's no big deal. What Crutcher has managed to do is create a well-rounded, modern and relatable character in Aline that we can all relate to even though we don't have magical powers of our own.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I’m always excited to read a book with magic or spooky themes with fall upon us. This one was cute but left me confused.

Aline is the main character, and I loved how she was a witch that can connect with ghosts. The characters she connected to all had unique names, but there were MANY to keep track of and I had to take some notes.

At times the plot was hard to follow - but overall this book was very quirky and I enjoyed the magical powers, creatures, and other realms that we got to visit.

This book started off strong. I was drawn right into the story. I loved Aline and her special power. My heart broke with hers and I was excited when she found the three sisters. Her journey into Matchstick was intriguing, but unfortunately, that's where the book started to drag for me. I found the points of view in Matchstick so interesting - reading about Night and how it didn't trust artificial lights, etc. How creative! But the story just seemed to drag and got confusing with too many characters and conflicting information about Magic popping up. Overall, I lost interest in the story but I do think fans of Stephanie Garber should give it a read. Matchstick reminded me a lot of her Caraval series/ world building.

Aline has never fit in anywhere in her life. Born to parents who ignore her, a community who barely sees her, and a world that doesn’t understand her value. Enter three sisters and a ghost called Dragon, and everything changes for Aline. Her story is proof that who we become is so much more important than who we are at any one moment in our lives. This is a story about the power of friendship, love, and the choices we make, and one that will keep you in its spell until the very last page.

A whimsical tale of original magic, abuse of power, a threat to the world as we know it, and an attempt to set things right. The story is centered around Aline Weir, a lonely girl who has more power than she realizes.

Description:
Aline Weir, a witch who can talk to ghosts, has kept her talents hidden ever since a disastrous middle school slumber party, choosing to be invisible and use her powers in secret to help lost souls reunite with the keys to send them home. All the while, she finds solace in a bookstore and the three mysterious women who run it… until Aline discovers the book of Mischief, and her powers are enhanced.

Living a solitary life until the age of thirty, Aline’s life takes an unexpected turn when the wrong (or perhaps right) person witnesses her using her powers and she is invited to a town that doesn’t exist on any map. Arriving in Matchstick, Aline learns of a lost magic that desperately needs to be found and only her unique powers can do it. But what she’s not told is that Magic is a person. One that is dangerous and seductive and has been waiting for a witch with a power like hers for centuries.

My Thoughts:
I found I liked Aline as a character and I enjoyed the plot. The concept of the book was different than any others I've read, and I usually like something different rather than the same trope. I also enjoyed the character Dragon and her mysterious persona. Actually all the characters were interesting. The pace moved fast enough to keep my attention. I've read several of Paige Crutcher's books and have enjoyed them all. This was not my favorite, but still a good story. It seemed somewhat like a children's story. Overall a fun and whimsical read and I think anyone who likes reading about magic and witches would enjoy it.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on September 26, 2023.

As a child, Aline didn't understand her magical powers but as a young woman now, she is learning all that those powers encompass. I enjoyed the world the author created and all the characters we meet along the way.; especially the three sisters who give Aline a job in their bookstore. This was a warm, witchy read for me and I have a feeling a will be going back to read it again.

A very special thanks to St. Martins press for this Arc! I’ve always loved books about witches and magic. I enjoyed the writing and I thought the world building was fantastic . .

Aline Weir grew up feeling like an outcast . Bullied by her peers and ignored by her parents . Aline found a refuge in books. However , one night , after an 8th grade slumber party , her fate changes and she discovers she’s capable of more than she ever imagined . Fast forward to the age of 30, she embarks on an adventure to find her true self .

I loved Aline and the imagery that the author used throughout the story . However , ultimately I was confused and felt lost as the story progressed

This was a hard book to get into, and when I was able to sometimes the book would take me out of it again. I was craving a more concise storyline and deeper connections. This reads more as a YA book.

Aline has never fit in.  Everyone she knows always leaves her.  She's also a witch.  She can talk to ghosts and help them cross over.  She can travel between her realm and the ghostly one.  Her powers are so unique, and she's recruited to help save magic, which is becoming unstable.  When she arrives, she finds that magic is a person, one she's been dreaming of for years.

The beginning of this book was touching.  We learn all about Aline's troubled childhood.  She is bullied, and it's impossible to feel loved by her parents who seem uninterested in raising a child.  I can feel her pain and loneliness. We watched her come into her powers and find a friend in the ghostly and mysterious, Dragon.  There's a lot of things in the beginning, half of the book you can understand and relate to.   It's when she travels to the magical town of Matchstick that things become a little more confusing.  You learn about one thing, and then it's changed on you later.  Truth is given out in riddles.  You're not sure who to trust.  This makes this book equal parts intriguing and confusing.  I enjoy magical stories with witches, but this really goes into the unknown. I had to really concentrate and reread parts to try and make sense of what was happening.  Things were a little too foggy to be fully enjoyable for me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Please note: My review will go live on Instagram the week prior to the publication date. Once that review is live, I will update my review here to reflect that link.

Thank you St Martin’s Press for an early copy for review!

What Became of Magic follows the story of Aline Weir, a witch from a small town who didn’t always know she was a witch but always knew she was a bit weird. But, when she discovers she can find the keys to help spirits cross over to the other side, she is set on a path that leads her to unexpected adventure and love.

This book honestly felt like a bit of a fever dream for me. Even after processing a bit, I’m still not quite sure I understand everything that happened or what my true thoughts were. However, I think I did enjoy it. For me, I think the stand out was probably Aline’s character. She felt like such a relatable person, and I also found myself rooting for her for the entirety of the story. She battled some serious issues throughout and came out better after each instance.

I also really liked how we followed her story. At first I was confused that we focused so much on her as a child, but once I realized where the story was going, I really appreciated us getting to see that background developing. I also thought the time spent in her childhood and adolescent years versus her adult years was excellently paced. At no point did I feel like we were spending too long in one era of her life. Additionally, while the romance was definitely secondary to the story, I did enjoy it.

The thing I think that lost me was the story of the magic. There just seemed to be a LOT going on in the world and I often had a hard time keeping up with it. Her writing was lyrical at many points and when I was able to keep up with the plot I did like it, but the characters and the names and the multiple names and stories for each character just had my head spinning at times.

Overall, I did enjoy the book and gave it a 3.75 star review. I think fans of books with intricate plots and out of the norm story lines would really enjoy this book.

Fun, gorgeous amazing


Thank you soooooo much netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced review copy if this book💗
"I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

I liked the premise of the story, and the plot sounded intriguing. Admittedly, it did take me a few tries to get past the first few chapters before I got into some semblance of a groove in reading this one. However, I can say that once the plot picked up, I found the tone of the writing to pleasing, but at times I struggled with how the overall story itself played out.

Normally, paranormal/fantasy books that are intertwined with romance are my kryptonite. Regrettably, however, I did not connect with the characters. Some parts felt forced while other parts of the story became difficult to understand. I found myself doing that more than once. Typically, I enjoy having to decipher clues, but not if it essentially overtakes the story.

While I am sure those that enjoy the magical, mystical elements within fantasy books would absolutely devour this one, I do not think this one was for my taste.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this title.